Know Your Rights
Information, resources, and tools to help you and your family stay informed, prepared, and calm — before an emergency happens.
Alert, Not Panicked
One of the most powerful tools against fear is preparedness. It is always better to talk through a plan as a family before an emergency than during one.
Regardless of your immigration or socioeconomic status, you have rights under the U.S. Constitution. Every person in the United States — regardless of where they were born — is protected by constitutional rights. Como Comunidad is here to make sure you have the information and tools you need to plan and protect yourself and your family.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Como Comunidad is a community nonprofit organization and is not a law firm. Laws, policies, and enforcement practices change frequently — the information here may not reflect the most recent developments. For guidance on your specific situation, please consult a qualified immigration attorney.
Know Your Rights — Core Resources
Know Your Rights Materials
The organizations below have developed trusted, bilingual Know Your Rights guides and materials. Select a resource to learn more.
Watch: Know Your Rights Explained
Videos — English & Español
The ACLU and Brooklyn Defender Services created the “We Have Rights” series — animated, story-based videos in 8 languages that explain your rights in the most common ICE encounter situations. https://www.aclu.org/we-have-rights
[Editors: embed videos directly on page using ACLU YouTube embed codes available at aclu.org/we-have-rights or https://www.youtube.com/@ACLU. English, Urdu, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Russian, Mandarin, and French are available.]
Scenario-Specific Guidance
What are my rights in this situation?
Select a scenario below to learn what your rights are and what to do. Each section includes explanations and links to more detailed resources.
Where: Your Home
What you need to know:
- To enter your home, immigration officers or the police need either 1) a valid warrant signed by a judge or magistrate, or 2) your permission.
- DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. Opening the door could mean you give the officers permission to enter your home.
- A warrant DOES NOT mean you have to answer questions.
- If immigration officers or the police are questioning you and you wish to remain silent, say out loud that you wish to remain silent or show the officials your Know Your Rights card.
What to do:
- Step 1: DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR.
- Step 2: ASK FOR IDENTIFICATION. Officers may try to trick or intimidate you to get into your house. Look through a window to see their ID. Do not be caught off guard and open the door.
- Step 3: Ask the officials if they have a warrant.
- If they DO NOT have a warrant: If the officers do not have a warrant, they do not have the right to enter your home. You can ask them to leave.
- If they DO have a warrant: You have the right to see the warrant. Ask the officials to slide it under the door or put it up to a window. Read the warrant carefully. If it does not have the required information, it is not valid and the officers cannot enter your home.
- Step 4: If officers enter your home (with or without a valid warrant), inform them if there are children, elderly, or sick people in the house. If they enter without a valid warrant, say that you do not consent. Pay close attention and write down what happened in detail after they leave — include the type of officers, their names, badge numbers, and the contact information of any witnesses.
📄 Download the full guide:
Where: Stopped in Public
What you need to know:
- Do not run if you see immigration officers or the police approaching you.
- If you are stopped on the street or in a public area, you have the right to remain silent and not answer questions.
- In some states, the law says that you must tell the police your name if they ask.
- In general, an officer needs a warrant to arrest you. In some situations you could be arrested if the officer has evidence you do not have legal status or if you have committed a crime.
- In some situations, officers have the right to search you to make sure you are not carrying weapons or illegal materials. Do not resist or fight back.
- If you are in an airport or near the United States border, you may be questioned or detained without a warrant. You still have the right to remain silent.
- In the past, immigration officers would not stop or detain people in certain public places, including schools, hospitals, places of worship, funerals, weddings, public religious ceremonies, or public demonstrations. This may change in the future. Also remember that you could be stopped on your way to or from these places.
What to do:
- Step 1: Before you say anything, INCLUDING YOUR NAME, ask: “Am I free to go?”
- Step 2: If the officer says yes, walk away slowly. If the officer says no, do not walk away.
- Step 3: You have the right to remain silent. Do not provide any information about your immigration status, where you were born, or how/when you came to the United States. Do not show any documents from your home country. Say out loud if you wish to remain silent or show the officer your Know Your Rights card.
- Step 4: If the officer searches you, arrests, or detains you, remain calm. Do not resist or fight. If you are searched, say: “I do not consent to this search.”
📄 Download the full guide:
Where: Your Car
What you need to know:
- Different laws apply when you are stopped in your car than if you are stopped on the street.
- If you are stopped at a border checkpoint, officers may search your car.
What to do:
- Step 1: Pull the car over and turn it off. Put on the overhead lights in the car. Put your hands on the steering wheel where the officer can see them.
- Step 2: When asked, follow the officer’s instructions and provide your license, registration, and proof of insurance. If you do not have a license or registration, do not provide false documents or lie.
- Step 3: If the officer asks to search your car, you can say: “No, I do not consent to a search.” In some situations, the officer can search your car without your consent and without a warrant. You should still say that you do not consent to a search.
- Step 4: You have the right to remain silent. Do not provide any information about your immigration status, where you were born, or how/when you came to the United States. Do not show any documents from your home country. Say out loud if you wish to remain silent or show the officer your Know Your Rights card.
📄 Download the full guide:
Know Your Rights Packet
Request a Free Packet
Our Know Your Rights packets are available free of charge in English and Spanish. Each packet includes trusted Know Your Rights materials and a Family Emergency Planning Checklist to help you prepare — before an emergency happens.
- Know Your Rights printed materials (EN + ES)
- Family Emergency Planning Checklist
- Full-size plastic folder (for home) and compact plastic folder (for your vehicle)
- Emergency contact card
- Key resource list for Missouri
